What is RF?

Radiofrequency, or RF, is the use of an oscillating electrical current, applied to the skin, that has numerous applications in eye care, including dry eye (1). A common cause of dry eyes are when the meibomian glands of the eyelids become clogged. These glands secrete the oily substance Meibum that coats the tears, allowing for more hydrated eyes. RF is used to heat these glands, allowing for the inner Meibum to flow easier, and thereby treating dry eyes (1).

Benefits vs Traditional Dry Eye Treatments

Traditional dry eye treatments such as preservative-free artificial tears and lid scrubs require constant adherence to a regiment, while RF is a more hands-off alternative. Studies have shown that a single treatment of RF with meibomian gland expression was effective at treating dry eye symptoms up to 3 months after the treatment and signs of dryness (such as meibum secretion and tear retention time) up to 6 months after the treatment (1). These same studies have shown that at 1 month, 85% of participants noticed improvement in their symptoms; and 87% at 3 months (1).

What to Expect

RF is a safe procedure, with rare side effects being mild redness and swelling 24 hours after the procedure (1). Some also report symptoms such as ringing of the ears and a mild static feeling.

Good Candidates for RF

Ideal candidates for RF include those who do not have any:

- Active infections

- Pacemakers/cochlear implants/ large piercings/ other metallic objects

• Recent Botox, filler, or injections

• Tattoos in the treatment area

• Sensitive skin/ inflammatory conditions (such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis)

• Pregnancy

Process

Upon arriving for the treatment, medications and the contraindications mentioned above would be confirmed. Any contact lenses would be removed. A cream would be applied to the treatment area. The total treatment time per side lasts about 7.5 minutes.

Conclusion

In summary, RF is an extremely safe alternative to the traditional drop regime to treat dry eyes. Four to six treatments every 2-4 weeks initialy, is optimal for treating dry eye disease. This is then followed by a maintenance treatment every 2-3 months. Additionally, RF has also been shown to be synergistic with IPL, being greatly effective against dry eye disease.

Citation:

1. Paul, Sean, Alex Cohen, Kami Parsa, Edward Jaccoma, Kim Burrell, and Jean Carruthers. “Transcutaneous Radiofrequency-Mediated Meibomian Gland Expression Is an Effective Treatment for Dry Eye: A Prospective Cohort Trial.” The Open Ophthalmology Journal 17, no. 1 (April 5, 2023). https://doi.org/10.2174/18743641-v17-e230328-2022-63.

Written by Midwestern College of Optometry intern, Vinay Naidoo

Optiplus Radiofrequency

Dry Eye Relief & Rejuvenation